DEVELOPMENT FOR NAKHON PHANOM CITY OF HAPPINESS BY COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

Abstract

  This research aims to: 1) develop indicators for creating a participatory city of happiness, and 2) apply these indicators to community development in Nakhon Phanom Province. Thirty people participated in the study, including five government officials and 25 villagers from Nong Sang Subdistrict. Additionally, questionnaires were distributed to 380 villagers in the same subdistrict. Interview forms and questionnaires were used as research instruments. Statistics used in research include mean and standard deviation.

  The research findings revealed that: 1) The creating a city of happiness with participation was at a moderate level (mean = 3.36). When considering each aspect, from highest to lowest average, the top 3 ranks were: participation in receiving benefits at a high level (mean = 3.68), participation in evaluation at        a moderate level (mean = 3.39), and participation in operations at a moderate level (mean = 3.28). The aspect with the lowest average was participation in decision-making at a moderate level (mean = 3.11). The interviewees ranked the importance from highest to lowest as 1) family, 2) income, 3) health, 4) clear mind, 5) good traditions, 6) peaceful society, and 7) good neighbors.

  2) After participating in the community development activity using happiness indicators, the following ranking was obtained: Rank 1, clear mind (mean value = 4.05, high level); Rank 2, good traditions (mean value = 4.03, high level); Rank 3, family (mean value = 4.02, high level); Rank 4, income (mean value = 4.00, high level); Rank 5, health (mean value = 3.89, high level); Rank 6, peaceful society (mean value = 3.99, high level); Rank 7, good neighbors (mean value = 4.09, high level).